Improvement in dumping-platforms



l U2 Sheets--Sheett' D. A. WELLS.

Imprqv'ement in Dumping-Platforms.

No. 130,551. Patented Aufgisnaiz.

l Sheets--Sheet 2 -Dg A. WELL-s.

vImprovemen'f in .I3uvm-ping-Platforms.v

Patented Aug. 11.1872L UNITED STATES DAvID A. wELLs, oE SANDWICH,ILLrNois. A

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 1220,551, dated August13, 1872.

Specification describing certain Improve ments in Dumping-Platforms,invented by DAVID A. WELLS, of Sandwich, in the county of De Kalb andState of Illinois.

Nature of the Invention.

This invention relates to an apparatus to be placed in the roadway Vorapproach to a grain or other warehouse, upon which apparatus loadedwagons may be driven, and which operates to tilt or incline the wagon insuch manner that the load will be discharged, when the tail-board isremoved, into an appropriatelyplaced receptacle or chute, and whichapparatus will right itself by the weight of the wagon as it is drivenaway empty; and the invention consists in the novel construction andarrangement of two horizontal platforms or tracks at the opposite endsof a tilting lever or levers, said platforms `or tracks being attachedto the lever or levers in such manner that they will vmove in verticallines and always preserve a horizontal bearing for the wagon-wheels,thus obviating the liability of the wagon rolling back as it is tilted,and avoiding the sudden rush of the load against the tail-board, which,in the case of grain or similar substance, would cause the load to surgeor shoot over the tail-board and outside of the receptacle, all of whichwill hereinafter more fully appear.

In the accompanying drawing, which is constituted a part of thisspecification, Figure 1 Y represents a top or plan view of my invention.

Fig. 2 represents a side elevation of the same.

' Fig. 3 represents an end view of the same.

General Description. Y

A represents the road-bed, consisting of a common planked wagon-way. Bis the front,

and C C the rear movable platforms or tracks. The front platform B isarranged to move vertically above the road-bed, and the rear platform ortracks C C to descend correspondingly below said road-bed; the platformand tracks being attached to opposite ends of the beams y or levers DD', moving parallel with each other,

and operating, through the vertical connectingbeams E E, to raise andlower the said platform B and tracks C C and keep them alwayshorizontal, as will be readily understood by refer* ence to Figs. 1, 2,and 3 of the drawing. F is a block or stop attached to a rock-shaft, G,to which is connected the hand-lever H, extending in an inclinedposition to a point above the road-bed convenient to the hand. Theweight of this hand-lever retains the stop F in the position shown, sothat it remains under one of the connecting-beams and retains the dumpfrom lowering as a wagon is driven on; and as the Wagon is driven o' andthe l dump raised, the said stop is caused, by the weight of the leverH, to fallinto position automatically, and retain the dump locked untilreleased by raising said lever.

The loaded wagon is driven uplon the road bed, in thel direction of thearrows, until the front wheels rest upon the platform B and the 'rearwheels upon the tracks C C. The stop is Withdrawn by means of thehand-lever, and the balance being previously properly adjusted, thetracks C C sink below the road-bed, preserving their horizontality, andthe platform B, carrying the front wheels, rises, preserving itshorizontality, thus bringing the wagon into an inclined position, when,by removing the tail-board, the load falls into a chute, I. The tracks CC and platform, by reason of always remaining level, carry the wagoninto the desired inclined position without causing it to run backwardsuddenly, and so cause the load to overshoot the tail-board.

Figs. 4. and 5 of the drawing represent a` tracks C C by rods K; andsaid platform and tracks are itted with guides L, attached to theroad-bed or a stationary frame-work, so that said platform and tracksare caused to move vertically and preserve their horizontality in thesame manner as they are caused to operate by the double parallel beams DD.

Having thus described the construction and operation of my invention,what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,

- the platform B and tracks C C, constructed and operating substantial]y as and for the purpose specified.

DAVID A. WELLS.

Witnesses:

JOHN N. FULLER, WEsTET W. SEDGWICK.

